Heritage Center wins $13,310 grant
The Johnston County Heritage Center has received $13,310 from the North Carolina Community Foundation to be used for general operating support.
The foundation distributes earnings annually from the Johnston County Heritage Center Endowment which was initially funded by the Holding family. The Holding family were principal stockholders of First Citizens Bank.
The NCCF grant plus donations from contributing patrons and other donations provide about 20 percent of the Heritage Center’s annual budget of $198,266, according to the center’s director, Wingate Lassiter. Lassiter said this year Johnston County is providing $145,388 from its general fund. The balance of Heritage Center revenues comes from research and copy fees plus book and merchandise sales.
The Heritage Center is the official archive for Johnston County history and genealogy. Its reading room and Internet site are widely used by researchers from near and far, according to Lassiter. The center also houses a museum that features artifacts of Johnston County’s past.
The center is in the former headquarters building of First Citizens Bank at the corner of Market and Third streets in Smithfield and open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Call 919-934-2836 or e-mail heritagecenter@johnstonnc.com.
